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That Time of Year Again

My new year's resolutions. My list to remind me of who I am and who I want to be. My reminder to myself that I'm only human, and that sometimes good enough is good enough. My checklist of the ways I want to be a better person, mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter. So here goes:

Get organized. I know, you've heard it before, but if it's not on my list, I cannot be accountable. Although, I have made great progress in this area. You can't have three children, a job, a business, freelance clients, guitar lessons, lacrosse practice, gymnastics, karate, homework, projects, tutors and a husband who travels constantly and not be. You just can't,

Go to the doctor. Really, I shouldn't have to resolve to do this, but alas. Two weeks into a sinus infection I finally made myself go, and now I'm begging someone to bash me in the head. So. Much. Pain. I need a complete physical, a trip to the dentist, a trip to the dermatologist. It's shameful to think of how long it's been since I've had to any of these. Time to swallow my pride. My family needs me.

Carve out time with my husband. He too often gets overlooked in my crazy life.

Find new family fun. My kids are at great ages for exploring and doing. Explore and do, before they are over exploring and doing.

Relax. Yesterday was a free day for me. I was sick and needed to rest, but couldn't relax because of my mental to-do list.

Exercise. My family needs me. And bathing suit season will be here before you know it.

Take time for myself. Moms tend to put ourselves last on our "to do" lists. I need a night out, a weekend away, a day where I don't have to worry about anyone else. I need clothes too, sometimes, cute clothes and not just from Target. I need to treat myself occasionally.

Hug my children less. Crazy, right? But because they're growing up and wanting less snuggle time with me, I have gone into overtime with my grabbing them and hugging them and kissing them...and it's making them crazy and me seem like a lunatic. As T would say "Mom, back off a little." I need to back off a little. It's going to kill me, but I need to respect their space.

Be thoughtful in my answers and directives to my children. Their questions are getting harder to answer as their awareness of the world gets broader. So far, the hard questions have me babbling like an idiot in response as I try to think and answer simultaneously. It's not working. I need to learn to pause and process, then answer with something they can understand and relate to. Babble loses them every time. I'm losing them frequently these days.

Be kind. Be gentle. Be patient. Be gracious. Be forgiving. If I can do one of these, the others will fall in line. If I can do all of these, I'll be the example to my children that I want to be.